What type of transformer is designed to increase voltage levels?

A step-up transformer is designed to increase voltage levels. It accomplishes this by having more turns of wire in the secondary coil compared to the primary coil. When alternating current (AC) passes through the primary coil, a magnetic field is created, inducing a voltage in the secondary coil according to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. Since the secondary coil has more turns, the induced voltage increases relative to the input voltage, resulting in a higher output voltage. This principle is essential for applications like electrical power transmission, where increasing voltage allows for more efficient long-distance transport of electricity, reducing energy losses.

In contrast, other types of transformers serve different functions: a step-down transformer decreases voltage levels, an isolation transformer separates different sections of a circuit while maintaining the voltage level, and an auto transformer provides a variable output voltage through a single winding.